So many issues, ranging from the positive, to the ridiculous and the absurd, came to light as President Muhammadu Buhari bestowed different types of national awards to more than 400 citizens and seven foreigners, three days ago.
For me, the whole event is a further proof of exactly how difficult it is to govern the vast space called Nigeria. The theory of individual differences advanced by psychologists was at full display as recipients displayed different characters while meeting the President to receive their award.
It was a day we saw exactly how difficult it is for many Nigerians to obey a simple instruction or observe the right kind of conduct, especially in public. The President was forced to double as a sort of protocol officer as he had to use his hands to show many recipients to turn properly for their loved ones to see their faces and appreciate them as they received the award.
Even when the President signalled for some persons to turn and face the audience, they stayed somewhat transfixed, looking rather confused as to the right thing to do, making a simple process look like rocket science.
One wonders why it was so difficult for these people to do the right thing, against the backdrop of the fact that, before being called, these awardees must have seen how others called ahead of them conducted themselves properly, decently and smartly.
When I was told about the honours and award, I prayed for just five persons to be among the beneficiaries: former Army Chief, General (now Ambassador) Tukur Yusufu Buratai; the current Chief of Defence Intelligence of the Nigerian federation, General Samuel Adebayo; former IGP Samuel Arase; and two great Nigerians quitely making waves in the world of philanthropy, Dr. Mike Ezeaju of the Swisstrade fame and Dr. Badamasi Burji, an editor-turned-entrepreneur.
Born with no silver spoon in his mouth, Burji set up a chain of successful businesses, the proceeds of which he invested not in himself but in helping thousands of his kinsmen to acquire quality education. The school he established in his native Burji town in Kano State has over 6,000 pupils, all of them on his scholarship. He also set up different empowerment programmes for the parents of these indigent students, obviously in a manner of teaching the people how to fish rather than always giving them fish. Sadly, Burji’s name was shockingly ommitted from the award list.
This column, three weeks ago, documented how Dr. Ezeaju, chairman, Swisstrade Nigeria Limited, has been spending hundreds of millions of naira yearly putting big smiles on the faces of hundreds of indigent Nigerians across all the six geopolitical zones. The man is also doing a lot towards a safer Nigeria. But his name also went missing from the list.
But three of those I felt fully deserved the award made the list, as mentioned earlier.
Gen. Buratai, no matter what those opposed to him might say, is thus far the most successful Army Chief this country has ever had, and his glowing record covering all aspects of army professionalism and patriotism is there for all discerning minds to see.
Those Nigerians who criticise the inclusion of Buratai and his colleagues, the former service chiefs, need to listen to Professor Usman Yusuf, who served as secretary to the committee set up by the military to rescue the remaining 23 victims of the train attack that took place in Kaduna six months ago. Yusuf had been a frontline critic of the security and intelligence services of this country, until his committee work brought him face to face with the reality on the ground, as far as our national security is concerned. After seeing things from an angle of reality, the professor was full of praise for the military that he spent years condemning.
The attitude of Gen. Adebayo to publicity gives further meaning to the adage that a leopard does not change its spots. The contributions of this great patriot towards a more secure and safer Nigeria are second to none in the current national security architecture of the country. He makes things happen by his ceaseless supply of timely, actionable intelligence to the action agencies. But he is one man who is totally averse to publicity and who does not bother about taking personal credit for his achievements for this nation. I didn’t even know he was among the beneficiaries of the award until I saw him receiving his own from the President.
Then of course former Inspector General of the Nigeria Police Force, the foremost patriot named Solomon Arase, a person who redefined the meaning of decency and integrity and brought same virtue to his headship of the Nigeria Police in the early days of the Buhari administration. It was such a pleasure seeing such great personalities being accorded recognitiion by a nation grateful for their services.
I did not expect this government to include the press for recognition, until I saw some media personalities, led by Femi Adesina and Baba Halilu Dantiye, included in the honours list. Both are former presidents of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, the apex organization for the profession of journalism in Nigeria, and they fully deserve the awards bestowed on them.
Talking about individual differences, there was the story of Teni, a musician, whose attitude continues to draw condemnation from a large spectrum of Nigerians.
The young woman, said to be an activist, probably felt the ceremony was an opportunity for her to display a kind of negative attitude, when she became the only recipient who failed to greet or shake the President when collecting her award.
Her action generated a lot of controversies among Nigerians who either saw Teni’s conduct as a total disrespect to the office of the President or as commendable to the spirit of activism.
A Twitter user, Okezie Atami, wrote, “Shame On You, Teni…Or Whatever They Call YOU! YOU Are A Disgrace To All Well Trained Nigerians! You DISGRACED yourself and not the office of the President, YOU danced to the tune of our youths who lack manners. Shame On You!”
According to Prettyyetty, Teni has not contributed anything to national growth and development to warrant her nomination for a national award and this was why she displayed no respect to the President of the country.
“I won’t even blame her. It’s those that included her name in the list that is at fault. What has she contributed to entertainment industry when we have Dbang and many others?” he wrote.
“She doesn’t deserve it they should withdraw if possible, human character matters a lot. This is minus to her she will live to regret it.”
Of course, in every situation, there are those who commended Teni for her conduct, saying the apresident does not deserve any such respect from the young woman. But then others have asked: if she is so averse to the system, why even collect an award from the President she seems to hate with a passion?
BRASS TACKS hereby congratulates all other awardees, charging them.to continue to do their best for humanity, while urging those in charge to remember those whose sacrifices of yesterday continues to ensure our today.